Zamfara Tribunal: Matawalle present 19 witnesses against gov Lawal-Dare

The Zamfara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned sitting to July 19 after the former governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, led 19 witnesses to prove his petition against Governor Dauda Lawal-Dare.

Matawalle, candidate of the All Progressives Congress had approached the tribunal challenging the election of Dare of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Petitioner said the March 18, 2023 election was flawed with irregularities and sought the tribunal to declare him the winner of the said election having scored the majority of lawful votes.He also prayed the tribunal to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him a new certificate of return.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, the petitioner’s lead counsel, Mr Usman Sule SAN, led the 19th witness, Dr Ahmad Kainuwa, who is the Returning Officer of Maradun Local Government Area during the governorship election.

Kainuwa identified the result sheet he collated from the ward collation officers he supervised which was part of the exhibits in evidence and told the tribunal that INEC asked him not to present it but rather announce the result generated from the INEC server.